Art

Face Mask

Ivory Coast, Guro People

20th Century

Boca Raton Museum of Art

This elegant mask features an elongated face with pouting lips and simple scarification of 3 short repetitive marks on the forehead. Representing either a wealthy young married woman or the daughter of a chief, it is the epitome of feminine beauty and status. The hairstyle indicates her social position, as the high placement of her hair knot and decoration would preclude her carrying loads on her head in the manner of a more common woman who have to do physical labor.